Hello Compleat Angler friends! While air and water temperatures have been frigid this past week, we will see a warmer stretch of weather starting Sunday and lasting until Wednesday. This will help warm water temperatures a bit during the afternoon, and hopefully jumpstart some Winter Caddis or Midge hatches. Overall, winter fishing can be tricky, however flows and clarity are all good on our local rivers and streams. Anglers braving the elements are being rewarded with trout left from the Fall stocking. In addition, anglers are still finding holdover trout on the Farmington River. With hatches diminished during the Winter, subsurface will be the most effective method, and during cold temperatures trout are now preferring their winter leis, which consist of slower deeper pools. Low and slow is the name of the game for nymphing, and you can expect strikes to be subtle. The Housatonic River currently has below average flows and easy wading, with plenty of fish from Fall stocking. On the Salmon River in New York, flows were dropped but are still above average. These higher flows have pushed more Steelhead into the system, which is making for some great fishing, especially in the lower sections of the river.

Read on for more…

Connecticut

Local Rivers

Flows are back down to below average levels on our local rivers and streams and conditions are currently cold and clear. For instance, flows on the Saugatuck River are reading 33.3 CFS. The good news is we can expect some rain showers this weekend and into next week with temperatures warming into the low 50s, which will boost trout and insect activity. Planning your fishing around the warmer mornings into the afternoon can result in finding some dry fly fishing, including Winter Caddis hatching in sizes 18-24 during the morning. Towards the afternoon you can expect small Blue Winged Olives emerging in sizes 20-26. If fish are refusing a Blue Winged Olive Dry Fly, try switching over to an emerger. No matter the day, nymphing will be the most effective method during cold Winter conditions. Since flows are back down, we recommend switching back a more imitative and smaller selection of nymphs. Drab-colored nymphs will be working well such as Pheasant Tails, Prince Nymphs, Caddis Larvae, Waltz Worms, and Perdigones in sizes 14-20, as well as Zebra Midges in sizes 18-20. In addition, smaller Woolly Buggers will be working well in Black, Olive, Brown, White, and Purple. Vary the retrieve to see what the fish prefer, and sometime a slow swing can entice the more lethargic fish. Jig streamers either dead drifted or animated with a jigging action from the rod tip will also work well as they offer a slower and enticing motion. Overall, a slower and more methodical approach when fishing through runs will help during winter as trout are less willing to expend energy. The Mianus River is fishing well, and anglers are finding fish both subsurface and on Blue Winged Olive Emergers. You may also find some fish left over from Fall stocking in the Saugatuck, Mill, and other small rivers and streams hit by stocking trucks.

Naugatuck River

Flows on the Naugatuck have also dropped back down to low water conditions, and are currently reading 133 CFS at Beacon Falls. Atlantic Salmon were stocked last week, so they will concentrate in the larger deeper pools during these low flows. For targeting Atlantic Salmon, swinging and/or stripping streamers and traditional hairwing flies, Woolly Buggers, and different color intruders will work well. Change flies after swinging through a pool, as sometimes Salmon will be triggered by a particular color or fly that has some added flash. Focusing on the entire run and fishing all sections methodically will be a good strategy to hunt them down. You may find them sunning on the brighter and warmer days in the tailouts. If you’re using a floating line, having a few polyleaders will aid in controlling your fly depth in different runs and scenarios, which can make the difference of getting your fly in front of these fish to entice a strike. Morning conditions will be cold so look for an increase in fish activity as the sun warms the water. There are still some trout to be found after this past Fall stocking, and there are still some Small Blue Winged Olives, Midges, and Tan Caddis hatching from late morning into the afternoon. For nymphing the usual suspects will work well, Caddis Larvae, Pheasant Tails, Prince Nymphs, Waltz Worms and Perdigones in sizes 16-18. Also consider bringing Zebra Midges in sizes 18-24, Mop Flies, Egg Flies, and Squirmies. Nymphing will be the most productive method, especially in the morning with trout being more lethargic due to water temperatures. The Naugatuck and Shetucket are good alternatives for areas with more crowds/pressure.

Farmington River

Flows were increased on the West Branch, and currently the Riverton gauge is reading 198 CFS while the Still River is slightly below average and dropping. Overall conditions are good for both wading and clarity, with water temperatures fluctuating in the mid to high 30s. Air temperatures will start to warm on Sunday and continue into early next week which will help bump temperatures in addition to water released at the dam. In terms of hatches, there will not be a ton of activity, however you may encounter some Winter Caddis hatching in sizes 18-20 during the morning, along with Midges in sizes 20-24. Nymphing has been the most productive method since trout are more lethargic, especially in the slower and deeper pools which are their Winter lies. For nymphs we recommend Pheasant Tails and Prince Nymphs in sizes 12-20, Caddis Larva 14-18, Perdigones 12-20, Hare’s Ears 14-18, Waltz Worms in 14-18, Black Stoneflies in sizes 12-18, and Zebra Midges in 18-24. In general, smaller subsurface insects will be working best this time of year. Anglers are finding some nice holdover Rainbow and Brown Trout primarily on nymphs. Even though Brown Trout have finished spawning, Egg Flies will still be working well. Streamers will fool an additional fish or two, namely those that are fished low and slow. Jigging Streamers can be an effective way to streamer fish during Winter because it simulates a slower and more enticing opportunity for lethargic fish. In addition, a slowly swung streamer will work with either single hand or Trout Spey rods. Overall, Winter fishing can prove difficult with trout activity and catch rates slowing down. Persistence and patience in the cold weather can be rewarded if you happen to find the bite window when fish become most active. Remember to not high or low hole anyone. Let’s be respectful to other anglers. Good luck! Keep in mind: Please report any suspicious activity and poaching to DEEP by calling 1-860-424-4357.

Housatonic River

Flows have dropped below average again on the Housatonic River and are currently reading 528 CFS at Falls Village. Water temperatures have dropped a bit more from the cold air temperatures, and Trout are now holding more frequently in their Winter lies, which are typically the slower and deeper pools. Look for an improvement on Sunday and Monday when air temperatures reach the 50s, which should warm water temperatures for the afternoon. Hatches will be diminished in this colder weather; however, you may encounter some Winter Caddis hatching in sizes 18-24 during the morning, along with some Midges in sizes 20-24. Subsurface fishing will be the best tactic, primarily nymphing with smaller and more imitative patterns from Caddis, Scuds, Pheasant Tails, ect. in sizes 16-20, along with Zebra Midges in sizes 20-24. Egg patterns will still be working well, and with nymphing low and slow will be the name of the game as well as anticipating subtle strikes. Although less consistent, streamer fishing will still be working. During the Winter a slower retrieve, swing, or jigging action will help entice more lethargic trout. Overall, Winter fishing can be tricky, however there are plenty of fish in the Housatonic from Fall stocking.

New York

Salmon River

Water levels have dropped recently on the Salmon River and the Pineville Gauge is current reading 1030 CFS, and flows are still above average. We can also expect some warmer weather from Sunday into Tuesday with a high in the low 50s. Despite the current cold conditions anglers are doing well on the lower sections of the river, so these above average levels have certainly improved the number of fish entering the system. While every day has been different, some anglers braving the weather have been finding double digit numbers of fish, certainly a feat for this time of year. Anglers are finding fish spread throughout the whole river, primarily Steelhead with a Brown Trout being landed on occasion. Nymphing is the most effective technique now, and smaller egg patterns around 8-6mm are working with the current conditions. Using fluorocarbon leaders will aid in abrasion resistance and strength in smaller diameters. We recommend using 9’ leaders in 1-3X, and having a barrel swivel connecting your leader to tippet will help for faster rerigging during break-offs, as well as offer a point where your splitshot can’t slide down to your fly. Popular Egg colors include Chartreuse, Orange, Pink, Cheese, and Blue. Estaz Eggs, Glo-Bugs, Sucker Spawn, Stoneflies, and Squirmy Worms are all flies to consider bringing. Where allowed, pegging beads offer a realistic egg imitation in a variety of colors from mottled Tangerine to Chartreuse.  Anglers swinging flies can opt for Woolly Buggers in a variety of colors, Egg Sucking Leeches, or PNW style Intruder Flies. These can be swung with a single hand or spey rods in conjunction with a sink tip. During these higher flows fishing Skagit heads will be an effective method as you can use more aggressive sink tips.